2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Glory and Marvel

When out troops invaded Iraq in March of 2003 the stated military intent was to produce “Shock and Awe” in the enemy. At first it seemed to work as the US troops quickly advanced through the country. As time went by and weeks turned to months and years we discovered that Shock and Awe isn’t very practical when you are already there.

Today is a special day for Margaret and me. October 26 is the birthday of our first child. I remember so very much about that event. It was life changing in a profound way. It was more powerful than Shock and Awe. It would be something more akin to Wonder and Awesome. These are words that might also be interchangeable with Marvel and Glory.

I admit to sometimes wondering how God will do it. How is it that when Christ comes back the whole world will be brought to heel? Over the last forty years it has been proven that Superpowers can’t just take over cities and declare victory and that’s it. We are such a resilient, resourceful, rebellious race that it is hard to imagine how the whole world could ever be subjugated even with a “rod of iron”. 

Then you read a passage such as the one before us today and you realize that God’s ways aren’t our ways. He isn’t really coming with just Shock and Awe, thought there will certainly be that. He is also coming with called Glory and Marvel. The world has never seen the like, but it will. And then every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 

Bring it!